Health

Pharmacists have warned Nigerians against using expired medicines, saying they can be as dangerous as counterfeit drugs and may lead to treatment failure, organ damage or even death. They explained that medicines can lose their potency after their expiry date, meaning they may no longer provide the intended treatment and could worsen a patient’s condition. Pharmacists also stressed that proper storage is important, noting that some medicines can become ineffective even before their expiry date if they are exposed to unsuitable conditions. They urged Nigerians to always check expiry dates, follow storage instructions and purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies. A former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Olumide Akintayo, said some expired medicines could become toxic to body organs after their active ingredients deteriorate. Another pharmacist, Adewale Oladigbolu, advised Nigerians who discover expired medicines at home not to use them, but to seek guidance on proper disposal. A 2022 study among Lagos residents found that over half of respondents had unused medicines at home, while many were unaware of how to safely dispose of expired or unused drugs.

Nigeria has commenced local production of insecticide-treated mosquito nets as part of efforts to strengthen malaria prevention and reduce dependence on imported health products. The new facility, Health Textiles Nigeria FZE, is the first in the country to manufacture dual-active ingredient mosquito nets, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. The facility will produce PermaNet Dual nets, which are designed to tackle the growing problem of insecticide resistance and were prequalified by the World Health Organisation in 2023. At full capacity, the facility is expected to produce about 10 million nets annually and create more than 600 jobs. The Health Ministry says the project will strengthen local manufacturing of essential health products and boost Nigeria’s healthcare value chain. About 80 employees have already been recruited and are undergoing specialised training, while the first commercial orders are expected to be fulfilled in the coming months.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has dismissed several unverified claims circulating on social media about allegedly fake and unsafe food products in Nigeria. The agency says social media allegations alone do not establish that a product is counterfeit, adulterated or unsafe, stressing that such claims must be independently investigated. NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, says the agency takes immediate action when investigations confirm violations, including issuing public alerts, seizing and recalling products, destroying them and prosecuting offenders. The agency says its regulatory powers cover processed and packaged food products, while unbranded and unpackaged items sold in open markets, such as palm oil and fufu, fall mainly under the responsibility of state and local authorities. It adds that fresh imported produce, including apples, grapes and oranges, is regulated by the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service. NAFDAC says it remains concerned about the use of calcium carbide to artificially ripen fruits, the adulteration of palm oil with harmful chemicals and reports of bleach being used in fufu production. The agency also says laboratory tests conducted in May 2026 confirmed that NAFDAC-registered bread products are safe for consumption. Between May and July 2026, NAFDAC says its Post-Market Surveillance Directorate inspected 6,233 facilities nationwide and removed 7,210 non-compliant products from circulation. Food and water products account for the highest number of removals at 3,633, followed by drugs and herbal products with 2,459, and cosmetics with 911. The agency says it has also secured 64 convictions for counterfeiting, with offenders receiving prison sentences ranging from one to seven years without the option of a fine. NAFDAC says major enforcement operations between 2023 and 2026 have led to the destruction and seizure of counterfeit, expired and banned products worth billions of naira. The agency urges consumers to report suspected fake or non-compliant products through its official channels rather than social media, to enable proper investigation and enforcement.

Wellington Clinics in Abuja suspended all kidney transplant-related services following an investigation into an alleged organ-harvesting and human-trafficking syndicate. The clinic denied involvement in any financial transaction involving a kidney donor and recipient, following allegations that a 22-year-old man was deceived into undergoing kidney removal at the facility. The Nigeria Police Force had arrested four suspects, including two medical doctors linked to the hospital, over the alleged organ-harvesting operation. Police alleged that the victim, identified as Samuel Ezekiel, was paid 1,250 dollars, approximately 1.7 million naira, for his kidney. However, Wellington Clinics said its records identified the donor as Abubakar Hassan, who underwent the operation on April 24, 2026, before being discharged four days later. The hospital said it had relied on documents presented by the donor and was unaware of any alleged identity manipulation or financial arrangement. Wellington Clinics said it would continue to cooperate with investigators and abide by the outcome of the probe.

The Federal Government has increased annual admissions into nursing schools from about 20,000 to 50,000 students as part of efforts to address the country’s shortage of healthcare professionals and strengthen the health sector. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an interview with journalists, explaining that the move is part of wider education reforms aimed at developing the skilled workforce needed to support President Bola Tinubu’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030. According to Alausa, the administration is prioritising investment in human capital by expanding access to professional education, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare. He said the government’s long-term objective is to position Nigeria as a global supplier of skilled professionals capable of driving economic growth at home while competing successfully in international labour markets. The minister noted that admissions into nursing schools have more than doubled since the current administration took office, rising from around 20,000 to approximately 50,000 students annually. He added that enrolment into medicine, pharmacy and dentistry programmes has also been significantly expanded to help close the country’s healthcare workforce gap. Alausa expressed confidence that the increased training capacity would begin to ease the shortage of nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals as more graduates enter the workforce over the coming years. He described education as a key pillar of the administration’s economic agenda, saying it would play a central role in achieving sustainable growth and supporting the President’s development objectives. The minister also assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was designed to remain financially sustainable beyond the lifespan of the current administration. According to him, the scheme was carefully structured to ensure its long-term viability rather than serving as a short-term intervention. Alausa further stated that the government has restored relative industrial peace in tertiary institutions through continued engagement with academic and non-academic staff unions, noting that the improved stability is contributing to better performance across the higher education sector. Nigeria has continued to grapple with a shortage of healthcare workers due to years of limited training capacity and the increasing migration of nurses and doctors abroad in search of better pay and working conditions. The situation has placed additional pressure on the country’s healthcare system, particularly at the primary and secondary healthcare levels. To address the challenge, the Federal Government has expanded admissions into nursing and other health-related programmes while increasing investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and other human capital development initiatives. The government believes these measures will help meet local healthcare demands while positioning Nigeria as a major source of skilled professionals for the global workforce.

A medical expert, Dr. Omotuyi Mebawondu, has explained that although men do not experience menopause in the same way women do, they can develop a condition known as Androgen Decline in the Aging Male (ADAM), commonly referred to as andropause. Speaking during Platforms Africa’s e-Discourse, Mebawondu said the term “male menopause” can be misleading because men do not experience the sudden hormonal changes seen in women during menopause. He explained that while menopause marks the permanent end of menstruation and ovulation in women after the ovaries stop releasing eggs, testosterone levels in men decline gradually, dropping by about one percent each year from around the ages of 30 to 40. According to him, menopause is a natural stage of aging in women and typically occurs after the age of 40. However, some women experience premature menopause due to factors such as the surgical removal of the ovaries, cancer, or certain medical treatments that affect ovarian function. On the male condition, Mebawondu said ADAM is an age-related decline in testosterone production caused by the gradual aging of the testes. He noted that unlike female menopause, the condition affects only a small percentage of men and is not considered a normal stage of male development. He added that doctors usually diagnose late-onset hypogonadism when a man presents multiple sexual symptoms alongside testosterone levels below 11 nanomoles per litre. The expert said testosterone plays a vital role in regulating sex drive, muscle mass and strength, bone density, fat distribution, sperm production, and red blood cell formation. As hormone levels decline with age, some men may experience reduced libido, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, and increased abdominal fat. Mebawondu also noted that symptoms commonly linked to andropause may not always result from low testosterone alone. Conditions such as diabetes, chronic stress, excessive alcohol consumption, and emotional challenges during midlife can produce similar symptoms. He added that ADAM can affect men of all races, with symptoms developing once androgen levels fall below the body’s required threshold.